Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of poly(ethylene glycol)-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to synthesize superparamagnetic nanoparticles and to investigate their cytotoxic effects on osteosarcoma cells. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and zeta potential techniques. The XRD patterns of Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed the formation of single-phase superparamagnetic nanoparticle, and the spectra matched well with the JCPDS values (89-0691) (Fig.1). In FT-IR spectrum, the bands at 579 and 3570 cm-1 emerged which are related to the Fe-O and OH groups. Based on zeta potential value, fabricated nanoparticles possess negative charge surface. In order to increase the stability of nanoparticles in biological media, they were coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Then, the cytotoxic effect of PEG@Fe3O4 nanoparticles on osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2 cells) was evaluated. Cells were treated with different concentrations of nanoparticles and the viability of cells evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. The results showed that PEG@Fe3O4 does not have any significant cytotoxic effect on the cell growth and viability of cells up to100 μg/ml. Based on these results, PEG@Fe3O4 could be considered as an appropriate nanoplatform in drug delivery field.